Cage member



w. B. PoPE July 16, 1946.

CAGE MEMBER Filed Feb.: 22, 1944 2 sheets-shea 1 l INVENTOIL mslow, Pope ./77 TORNE Y July 1s, y1946.

w. v B. POPE CAGE MEMBER Filed Feb. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet? WLM@ Patented July 16, 1946 Winslmv B. Pope, Detroit, Mich., assigner, by, mesne assignments, to United States of Amerj ica Appiicationrebruary 22, 1944, seria1No.523,41s.

This invention relates to reaction propulsion devices of the so-called rocket type, more particularly to an improved arrangement for supporting the propelling charge. I Y

It has been proposed heretofore to provide a .propelling charge of slow-burning powder, or

other suitable combustible material, in the form of annular sticks and to Vsupport such sticks by means of ar cage comprised of a plurality of rodlike elements and end plates, such as shown in the copending application, Serial No. 487,689, of Warren H. Farr, filed May 20, 1943.

The present invention has for its object the provision of relatively simple means for rigidifying the above-mentioned cage structure to the end that such rigidification will aidin maintaining the cage structure coaxial with the projectile whereby to aid in insuring true flight of the projectile.

Another object is to provide,such a cage structure with improved means of economical manufacture for locking the rod-like members against vibration and substantial deflection.

With the above and other objects in View which will be apparent from the following description to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, the present invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, andthen claimed.

In the drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments of the present invention: v

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a rocket projectile having the arrangement of the present invention incorporated therein; Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged transverse sections taken substantially on the lines 2 2 and 3 3, respectively; K ,Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged` side elevation of the cage for the propelling charge in partially assembled condition; .y Y

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sections taken substantially on lines 5 5 and 6 6, respectively,

of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section gV vwhich like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Figure 1 for the purpose of illustration, one form of pro-'- 4 Claims. (o1. 1024+491.;A

jectile'which embodies a main projectile body I0 having a chamber I| thereinY for the reception of an explosive charge, not shown, and having an axially andrearwardly extending burster tube |2.

- Threadably secured to the base end of the body I0 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a tubular casing I3 having lits trailing end contoured to form an axially opening Venturi passage I4. .Suitable stabilizing ns I5 are pivoted at I6 to a ring I'lwhich Vis externally threaded tothe trailing end ofthe casingrl3. 4 y

Referring to Figure l, it will be noted that Vthe casing I3 is provided at its forward end with an internal shoulder '|8. This shoulder, as will be later "described, forms a support for the cage I9 which carries the propelling charge.

-The cage I9 includes, as shown in Figures l to uapl'urality of longitudinally extending rods 26,

an annular rearward end plate 2| and an annular forward end plate 22, the plates 2| and 22 having inner annular anges 23 and 24 respectively. Each of the rods 20 is provided with integral upset or bulbous portions 25 and 26 intermediate its ends and with upset heads 2l at its opposite ends. The rods 20 extend through the reaward end plate 2| in uniformly circumferentially spaced relation, the heads 27 at the rearward ends seating 'against the plate 2|. Such upset heads 2'I are formed after the rods 20 are extended through the plate 2|. `A y v The propelling charge is in the form of annular sticks 28 of slow burning powder or other suitable material, the openings 29 therein being slightly larger than the heads 2l and upset portions 25 and 26 to permit the sticks to be slipped over the rods. Y

The forward end plate 22 is provided with uniformly circumferentially spaced keyhole slots 30, the enlarged portions ofthe slots 30 being of sucient diameter to permit the head portions 21 of the rods 20 to be slipped therethrough. In the `assembled condition, it will be notedthat the` rods 20 as shown in Figure 2', are disposed in the narrower vportions of the slots' 30. K

Adjacent the upset portions 25 are a pair of annular rigidifying plates 3| and`32, which may be in the form Vof metal stampings, the plate 3| ,having radial slots 33 extending outwardly from the inner periphery thereof and the plate 32 having radial slots 34 extending inwardly from the outer periphery thereof. Th'e slots 33 and 34 have thesame circumferential' spacing as the rods 20 and the rods extend through these slots. The plates 3| and 32 abut each other and `irrthelr plate 2l, a second series between` the plates 13| Y and 36 andra third series between theV plate 36 and the forward end plate 22. It is obvious that any desired number of such series maybe emst'icks 28k is supported within the casing 13,1 the forward end plate 2E seating against the shoulder' Y I8. An annular groove 37 is provided inthe b aseVV Vend of the bodyV it forthe reception of the heads 21 at the Vforward endsfof the rods 20. The cage assembly, of course,V is disposed V.within the cais- Y ing I3 before th'e casingV and main bodilyV portion l are assembled. n' As will be seen from Figure 1; the burster' tube l2 extends axially within'and through the cage assembly just described.V In order to stabilize the rearward end of thev'cage assembly and maintain it Vagainst lateral movement, a number of earsr'38 arestruok fromy the ange 2:3 of the rearward end plate 2| into` the plane# ofthe plate 2l so that such' vears will seat against-the burster tube V12, as shown in Figures 1 and 3,andrthus' support Ythe cage assembly against lateral 4deflection.V In some Casesjthe burster tubejlZ 'may jbe omitted-andl inzthisY oase,V as Yshown in Figures '7 and 8, therearward end plate 2 Il is formed with radially outwardly extending projections 38-a which are arranged toengage l,with th'e inner wall surface of thecasing I3 Vand. thus, in this manner, supportV the cage assembly against lateral deflection Apart from this the-construction is generally the same as that of Figure'l.

I [nV lthe assembly of th'ecage,rprior' to the asof charge sticks 28 .are slipped over the rods 2Q to` a position between the'rearward end plate 2l and theupset or bulbousv portions 25. Y Then the rods 2B areV` distorted to an Outward position, as

-. shown in broken outline in Figure 5,.whereby the plate 32 is inserted within thecircumferentially spaced rods 26; vThe rods 2 arethenV moved radially back to a normal position. within the slots 34.' Next,V the'rods 20 are distorted radially inwardly, as shownin brokenoutline in Figure', Y'and the plateV 3l is slipped into surrounding relation'V with `respect to the rods 20 with :the slots 33 aligned with the rods. After kthe plate 3i clears the 'bulbous portions 25, the rods areallowed to spring back outwardly into the slots 33.*HThe plate 3| is'then' slid along `the rods into engagement with the plate 32,thus closely Vconfining I the rods in the opposed slots 33 and 34 and hold- V ingfthem against relative" radially inward orl out- Vwardrmovern'erit; j Y I The Vsecond series of 'charge sticks 2i!v is then j assembled to the rods 2l! and the plates 35 and 36 are assembled in the same manner' as the plates3land32.

After the third orfforward series of vcharge 1 1Tnerelisthus;provideda re1auve1y vsimple aramargo construction described isV particularly advantageous in that there is no likelihood of the cage Y assemblybecoming distortedor shiftedV to an offcenter position during flight of the projectile. As

'4 rangement for supporting the propelling charge, the'plates Ble-32 and Z55-36 rigidly holding the rods against lateral deiiection or vibration and 'Y the ears 38 in the one case and the extending portions 38-a in the other case holdingthe rearward end against lateral movement. `The a result the projectile will have a truer flight than ployed, depending on the length of the easingl3.` has/been the case heretofore.

k The complete cage Y assemblyV including the..

, Y Another important advantage of the construction described resides in the fact that by rigidify-v ingV Ythe charge supporting cage, the charge sticks are prevented from breaking down through contact with the walls of the casing or the burster Y tube incidentV to vibration or deflection of the' cage'rods. `sticks is extremely disadvantageous in that small.

Such breaking down of the charge is fired from its projector. p

rlhe arrangment fdescribe'd alsoV permits free fiowrof the products of combustion between and around the s erieslof charge sticks. Y

Itewill be obvious, to those skilled in thefart ,that various changes may beY made in the detailed construction andnarrangement of the parts described, Without departing from the spirit and Y t Y Y Y member, said-endelements'holding said cage-.like Y is dened bythe appended claims, o

What is claimed is:k

substance of the' invention', the scope of which 1. A'devioe for supporting annular charges of'V combustible material for use in rocket projectiles, Y

comprising a pair of spaced coaxial annular end plates, Va plurality of parallel rod-like elementsY extendingbetween'Vandjsupported by said end, plates in circumferentially spaced relation with respectto each othenmeans intermediate said end platesfor locking said rod-like elements against lateral movement, said mea'nsincluding/V a pair of annular abutting plates, the onesurroundingsaid @elements and having radial recesses in its inner periphery and the other being surrounded by said rodlike elements and having Aradial recesses in: its outerperiphery, said rodlike elementsnbeing seated in said recesses of both said plates and said recesses .beingof suchY Width as to closely engage and ltherebycoriin'e said rod-like elements. against lateral movement, said rod-like elements being arrangedtosupport the annular` charges` of combustible' material `be' tween said end plates' and saidv intermediate leasing and surrounding saidV central member,

'said cage-like'member comprising 'apairof end] elements and a plurality of longitudinallyl extending parallel rods carried by said end elements in A .circumferentially spaced relation about ra com` mon axis, one of saidend elements'being'` supz ported'by said casing and `theol-,her of said end elements having (a plurality of radially inwardly extendingl portions seat-ing against said central rne'mlrlerl against'rlateral movementrelativefto said 'casingand annularf elements of combustible materialsurrbunding and supportedby said-rods. 3. In a rocket device having a tubularcasing, a

tending portions engaged with the inner wall l surface of said casing for holding said cage-like member coaxially Within said casing.

4. In a reaction propulsion device having a tubular casing, a cage for holding a propelling charge within said casing, comprising spaced end members, longitudinally extending rods carried by said end members in circumferentially spaced relation about a common axis, and at least one pair of closely adjacent annular members intermediate the ends of said rods, one vof said annular members being disposed Within the circle of rods and having radial recesses at its outer periphery partially closely surrounding said rods from one side thereof, and the other of said annular members surrounding the circle of rods and having radialrecesses at its inner periphery partially closely surrounding said rods from the other side thereof, saidend members having radial portions holding the opposite ends of said cage against movement laterally of said casing, and annular elements of combustible material at opposite sides of said pair of annular members and surrounding sad rods.

WINSLOW B. POPE. 

